Casting mechanism for typographical machines



June 23, 1925;

S. E. SPERRY CASTING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed May 22.1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. E. SPERRY Filed May 22, 1924 CASTING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICALMACHINES June 23, 1925.

Jamae/ Patented June 23, 1925.

SAMUEL S E M 9 wow; m ASs -GNQTB- YIQ inane wa e TION, or BROOK-LYN,NE-wyonrga. CORPORATION or new YORK.

" cAsri' ne mcminsa i on wroearmmn mcamas.

application-filed M 22, 1924; Serial at. ri-sass.

useful Improvements in Casting Mechanism for Typographical Machines, ofwhich the following is arspecification. 1 j

The present invention relates to improve- -ments in thecasting.mechanism 'of typographical machines and more-especially tomachines of the ilinotype class substan- .tially 1890, to O.Mergenthaler and- 'other machines em loying-a 'mol'd carried hy amo'ldwheel or d p is cast, and a -metal pot-for injecting the type metalinto'the mold, the -mold wheel" being movableto carry the front face'ofthe? mold against an assembled line of matrices preparatory tothecasting operation andthe" metal pot being movableto bring its mouthpieceagainst the rear face of the mold fto close itpreparatory to metaltherein. .7 i 7 y In machines of this class, the front'fa'ce of the moldmust fit evenly andveryclosely against the line of'matricesavhich areheld in the casting position by, the i'isualyise jaws and themouth-piece of the metal pot must fit evenly and veryclose'lyagainst'therear face of the mold, othei'wiseleakage'of molten typemetaluill occuratjthese points when the molten metal is forced under pressure into theno1d; Therefore, it hasjbeenthepractice m constructing machines of thisclassto rigidly guidethe mold wheelandmetal potin an effort to maintainjthe correct relationship which jis established b'etween these partswhenthe ,maehme "is I assembled. However, experience has shownthatnotwlthstandi'ng-the care exercised in overcoming the difficulties ofsecuring correct ahnement or lock-up of the mold wheel and metal p'ot',refitting (n-readjustment of these parts becamejnecessary from time to.

time to correct the la'ck of-alinement which developed,- due to warpingof'these parts or the parts of the machine on; which they are mounted:

as shown and describedin Letters Patent No. 436,532, grant-ed September16,

tion, of the first elevator containing a line ,of'jmatrices, the moldwheel and flits slide isk in which a type bar 'o'i'slug' 'figure;

Figure 3 i's'a ,ti'on of the metal-pot and the means for the inj ectio'nof type 1 m'ounting ntin the machine;

themselves with the line of matrices, there- 'bymaintainingautomatically a correct lock-up of these parts andaccommodating them to warping or other changes which may take place inthe machine.

Tothese and othei; ends the invention consists in ertain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts all as 'Wllll be hereinaftermore fully described, the features of novelty being pointedout particularly in the claims at the specification,

end of the In the accompanyin drawings Figure 1 is atop plan view,partly in secand the; metal pot, the 'mold' wheel and Figure 2represents a vertical section *throu'gh the' parts shown in Figure 1,the section beingtaken on the line 22 of said perspective view or por-Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the-manner inwhich the moldwheel and metalp'ot are alined with-the line of inatrices. I v Y Similarparts are designated'by-the same reference characters n the severalviews;

' [The present invention is applicable to typographical machines of thegeneral class employmg a i mold wheel or its equivalent and a 'metal'pot"for casting type bars or slugs from a line of matrices, although theinvention isparticul'arly applicable to main detail. 'It' is'to beunderstood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the preciseconstruction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated, andsuch will be included within the scope of the claims. y In the presentinstance, l repr'esents the vise frame of a machine of thelinotype ceiveline o tinatrices h l which have been composed in thewelrkndwn manner toform chines of the linotype class as shown suba line, the first elevatoroperating as is Well known to lower the line of matrices to the castinglevel where the line is received between the usual vise jaws and isclamped endwise' preparatory to the casting operation. The matrices beartype characters in intaglio in their rear edges, as is usual in machinesof this class, and the casting mechanism operates in the well known wayto cast a type bar or slug against the rear character-bearing edges ofthe matrices so that the type bar or slug thus produced bears .typecharacters along its edge which are a reproduction of the typecharacters borne by the assembled line of matrices. 4 is the mold wheelor disk carrying one or more molds 5 in which the type bars or slugs arecast. The mold wheel is carried by a slide 6 which is guided in themanner usual in machines of this class, to reciprocate and thereby carrythe mold 5 which is in use toward the line of matrices preparatory to acasting operation and to withdraw this mold from the line of matricesafter the casting operation has been performed. The mold wheel slide maybe reciprocated at properly timed intervals by the usual cam 011 the camshaft 7 of the machine. The mold wheel is revoluble in order that it mayrotate after each cast has been made, to effect triimning' of the footof the type bar or slug just cast in the mold and to bring the moldcontaining such type bar into position forejection therefrom by theusual ejecting mechanism, following which the rotation of the mold wheelis reversed and the] mold, in use is restored to operative position. Topermit .such rotation of the mold wheel to take place, it is mounted ona shaft 8 which is journaled in a bearing 9.

Heretofore the bearing supporting the shaft of the mold wheel has beenrigidly connected to the mold wheel slide and, hence, if the front faceof the mold became out of parallel with the rear face of a line ofmatrices held in the first elevator, due to warping of the parts of themachine, one end of the mold would engage the line of matrices inadvance of the other end of the mold, this lack of parallelism betweenthe mold and the line of matrices precluding a sufliciently close fitbetween the front face of the mold and the matrices to withstand thepressure of the molten metal which is forced into the mold, inconsequence of which leakage of type metal would occur.

The present invention provides a mounting for the mold wheel whichrenders it capa ble of self-alinement whereby an even and very close fitbetween the front face of the mold and a line of matrices is insured,notwithstanding warping or other changes which may take place 1n themachine and which tend to alter the relationship between the mold wheeland the matrix linesupport ing means. Preferably, and as shown in thepresent instance, the bearing 9 which supports the mold wheel shaft ismounted on the mold wheel slide .6 so that the mold wheel may pivot oralter its angular position about a vertical axis or an axis transverseto the length of the line ofinatrices. In the particular constructionshown, the mold wheel slide 6 is formed with arms 10 which provide aforked bracket between which the bearing 9 is mounted, and these arms 10receive trunnions or vertical pivots 11 which are secured in the bracket9 and project from its'uper and lower sides. This construction insuresrecipraction of the mold wheel in unison with the reciprocations of theslide 6 in order to carry the mold in use toward and from a line ofmatrices preceding and following respectively each casting operation,but the bearing 9 is: free to pivot or rotate between the arms 10 on themold whee-l slide, this relative rotation taking place on a verticalaxis or an axis which is transverse to the length of the line ofmatrices. Consequently, the front face of the mold will fit evenlyagainst the rearface of the line of matrices, the pressure between thefront face of the mold and the line of matrices being equalizedthroughout the length of the line and, hence, the mold, as it comes intoengagement with the line of matrices, preparatory to each castingoperation, will accommodate itself to the position occupied by the lineof matrices, it compensating for any variation in the relative positionbetween the line of matrices and the mold wheel, due to warping of theparts of the machine or other causes. A knife 12 similar to that usuallyemployed, serves to trim the foot of the slug or type bar cast in themold, as the mold wheel rotates to bring the slug into position forejection. This knife is rigidly supported by an arm 13 which is fixed toor forms a part of the mold wheelvbearing 9, so that no alteration inthe relation ship between this knife and the mold wheel will take placealthough the mold wheel may pivot on the pivot pins 11.

The present invention also provides improved means for mountingandshifting the metal pot whereby the mouth-piece of the latter willaline itself with the rear face of the mold and thus insure a properlock-up therewith. In the present instance a metal pot 14 is shown whichmay be similar to those commonly used in machines of this class, themetal pot being provided with a mouth-piece 15 which is adapted to fitagainst the rear face of the mold and is provided with orifices throughwhich the molten type metal is injected into thecavity ofthe mold, andthe metalgpot also contains the usual plunger 16 .which operatesin wellknown manner to force molten metal-from the metal pot through themouth-piece amazes thereof and in-tovthe anol'd, {The {meta-l .gpot irshcwn :ho-nsed as --usu.a-l-, in a icrucible l7 and the crucible islprovi'ded' ,with- :legs :lStll low'i v n scf wl'iiehiare mountedorsupported on a ..:sl1.aft l9-- which may fibe the shaft commonly used to;pi-votallysnpport the ise frame 1. AS; shown nth-e lower ends Off thelegs 18 ;a-re formed :with -:f orks 20 which 731:6 adapte'dto straddlethe shaft :19

--- and (permit movement (of theseforked :ends

of the legs in a direct-ion transversely and horizontally with respect,1 to the shaft 119, a screw 2.0 in the upper part of each fork shearingon agbushing 19? ,on the ,shaftand thus serving as adjustable means :tolevel and ,adjust the theight, of the mouth-piece of the dne-tal potwith wres'pect :to :the arear face :of the -mold. 'Means ;is provided-for connecting ;the flowers-ends :of the legs 218 to the frame of thevmachine in a manner which will permitm-i'limited degree-of movementof'the forks 20in oppositevdirections and crosswise oflthesha ft 19. Asshown, a

cross member: 21. is; secured to the rearsi'des of the legs18,and1thiscross, member is connectedibya link 22 to agbracket 23,the-latter being fixedtoa suitable stationaryvportion 24 of thei machineiframe. "The ends I of the link 22 are-preferably spherical inform andfit correspondingly shaped sockets 25 y and 1 126, the link thuspermitting a universal movement to take place: between :the legs of themetal pot crucible and :the machine frame. v

Inthe. operation of the machine,-the-metal pot lS ShlftBd to bring itsmonthrpieceagainst the rear face of the -mold preparatory to eachcastingq-operation,and it ,--is retracted following means for soshifting the metal pot comeach coasting soperation. :The

prises an appropriatelyshaped-cam-27 which is mounted .-;on the--camshaft '7 o'fithe machine, a bar 28 whiclrcarries a roller 29 whichrides Mon and .is actuated by the cam, and .a abar or 'member '30avhichis connected by: a pin '31 to thezuppe'r end of the bar 28 and 5 isconnected vat its for- -ward end to-themetal pot or theiencloscrucible17 thereofiby avpivot pin 32 which extends vertically and permits.relatire ;rotation between the 1 bar :30 and the metal; potabout thepin;32 asa vertical axis. This-pivot pin 321s substantially iiiyerticalva-linement with the pivot pins 11- whichsupport-the 'mold wheel as wellas with the pivotal connection between the, legs" 18 and the stationary:frame of the machine provided by thelink 22, when the *mouth-piece ,ofthe :l'IlGlJl-l pot-is in contact-with the-rear; face of i'thei-mold, sothatztheqmold wheeliandrthemetal pot may freely, swing bodily about thepivot pinsll and 32,-inci'dent ton-the aline- ,ll'lellt of-the frontface of; the; mold, with the 1 inc of matrices, without binding :action;ibew enathe tal :pfl i'mquthrpics a d he re gthefbar 28 ;may--be;provided; at, opposite. sides .-ofthe roller 29 {with lugs or ears 34 tosstnajddle the cam -27 and thereby ,guidethe lobar -28 and also insnreproper tracking of the; roller 29 on the cam. After the cast; has

been;made, the low part of the cam 27 upon in-aching; the -1 oller 29,allowsithe metal pot gtifi ;s-w i;r 1g rearwarcl-ly under weight and but th sha wa asen ryil e nt n i hem ta pQt-s tha i Wil l e eisw n ,orrotate; about gen axis ;;si1bst-antijally coinc den it th vertiea p r aiwh c support the mold disk, the mouthpiece {of i the mold, pot -.wi 1lali ne itself w-ith.-the 1 rear vface of, themold as-itcomes. intoengagement therewith preparatory [to each casting openation t-husinsuring aneven tight fit at this ,and athus avoiding leakage of the--mo1ten type metal -,which is forced under Pressu i to-theme V I -Fig.14 in diicil tesv diagrammatically-the finanner in which the I;no1daccommodates .itsel-f to-ythe position zoceu-piedabyethe line -ofmatrices in casting position, -and ft-he rme hn ne 'meta pe accommoditselftoe the position a-ssumed 1 by the mold .1-as'%it into contactwith {the line of matrices, thee-full li-n es,indicating to-aniexaggerated extent, a Jack of falineme'nt or ,parallelism f between;the mold and I the i line a of matrices, and between .--the mold and thenienthpiece of the; metal;.pot,- and the: dotted lines 'showing these aparts :properly alined incident to i their coming into contact with,onewmother.

By; pivotally-mounting moldwheel-on itslslide substantially;ashes beendescribed, ethe; mold isrendered capable of' adjusting itselfangularlywith respect-to the; length of a the line. of matrieesaheld; fthecasting: posi- -tion,- thereby bri-nging the fnont face of ;the I moldjinto -even and -close fit,-withthecharaeter, bearing edges ofvthematrices eompr-is ing the line; and by mounting the metalspot sothatit may-alter the angu larposition of ,-,i ts mouthpiece in, the.{direction of its length and forcing;the mouthpiece against the rear i a'io the-mo y membe hic vp vo aflyeens ee herma -r po t ,=-;media te; thelength ,of the mouthpiece, tjhe amevnhnies wil vai -in itsel even y :an

i very closely against the rear face of the mold. Thus a tight lock-upbetween the front face of the mold and the line of matrices and the rearface of the mold and the mouthpiece of the metal pot is always insured,notwithstanding warping and other influences which, in machines of thisclass as heretofore constructed, have caused leakage of the molten typemetal at one or both of these points.

I claim as my invention 1. In a typographical machine of the classdescribed, the combination withmeans for holding a line of matrices incasting position, of a mold wheel operative to present the face of amold thereon to the characterbearing face of the line of matrices andsupported on a fixed vertical axis which extends transversely of themold. at a point substantially centrally of its length, whereby the moldwheel is prevented from rocking in a vertical plane but is free to rockin either direction about said axis when the mold comes into contactwith said face of the line of matrices, to insure intimate contactbetween the line of matrices and said face of the mold.

2. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldwheel carrying a mold which is movable into closing relation with theline of matrices, the mold wheel being pivotally mounted on a fixed axiswhich intersects the center of rotation of themold wheel to allow eitherend of the mold thereon to swing toward the face of the line of matricesabout such axis, but supports the mold againstswinging' in otherdirections whereby the alinement of the mold with the line of matrices,during the final part of the closing movement of the mold, is controlledby the line of matrices.

3. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of character-bearing matrices in castingposition. of a mold movable into contact with the character-bearing faceof the line of matrices in making a cast therefrom, the mold beingpivoted on a fixed vertical axis which is transverse to and locatedsubstantially centrally of the length of the mold whereby the mold mayaline itself longitudinally with said face of the line of matrices whenbrought into contact therewith but is supported by said axis againstrocking movement in a vertical plane.

4:. In a typographical machine of the'class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of character-bearing matrices in castingposition, of a mold movable to bring it into contact with thecharacterbearing face of the line of matrices preparatory to the makingof a cast therefrom, the

mold being capable of pivoting movement about a fixed axis which islocated substantially centrally of the length thereof whereby it mayadjust its face into longitudinal parallelism with the character-bearingface of the line of matrices.

5. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldadapted to be brought into contact with the line of matrices, the moldbeing pivotally supported on a fixed vertical axis which is transverseto the length of said line and is located substantially centrallybetween the ends of the mold whereby the face of the mold may adjustitself into longitudinal parallelism with the cooperative face'of theline of matrices when the mold is brought into contact therewith.

6. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldwheel carrying a mold adapted to be brought into casting relation withthe line of matrices, the mold wheel being pivotally supported on afixed vertical axis which is transverse to the length of the line ofmatrices and is located substantially centrally of the length of themold,thus enabling the mold to rock in either direction about said axisand thereby adjust itself in conformity with the position occupied bythe line of matrices.

7. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position. of areciprocating slide, a rotatable mold wheel having a supporting hearingwhich is pivotally supported on the slide on a fixed axis whichintersects the center of said bearing and carrying a mold which isadapted to be brought into casting relation with the line of matrices bythe movement of the slide, said axis extending transversely to and beinglocated substantially centrally of the length of the mold whereby thelatter 'is capable of adjusting itself to the line of matrices byrelative pivoting movementbetween the mold wheel and the slide on saidaxis.

8. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting posi- "tion, of areciprocating slide, a rotatable tion, of a mold movable into closingrelation with the character-bearing face of the line of matrices andcapable of rocking about an axis located substantially centrally betweenits ends to adjust itself to said line, and a metal pot havingamouthpiece movable into closing relation with the mold to inject metaltherein, said mouth piece being mount-- ed to rock about an axis locatedapproximately in the same plane with its mold engaging face and capableof adjusting the lIEOLd and itself to the line of matrices during thefinal part of its closing movement.

10. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldmovable into closing relation with the line of'matrices and mountedpivotally whereby it may adjust itself to the position occupied by theline of matrices, and a metal pot movable to bring its mouthpiece intoclosing relation with the mold, said mouth piece being mounted pivotallyon an axis transverse to and located substantially centrally of itslength, said axis being located approximately in the same plane with themold engaging face of the mouth piece, whereby the alinement of themetal pot mouth-piece and the mold with the line of matrices, during thefinal part of the closing movement of theseelements is controlled by theline of matrices.

11. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldwheel carrying a mold movable into cooperation with the line ofmatrices, and a metal pot having a mouth-piece movable into cooperationwith the mold, the mold wheel and metal pot being pivoted onsubstantially coincident axes which extend transversely of the length ofthe mold and are located substantially centrally of the length thereofwhereby the relationship of the metal pot mouth-piece and the mold toone another and to the line of matrices, during the final part of therelative movement between these elements to bring them into cooperation,is determined by the position of the line of matrices.

12. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, of a moldwheel carrying a mold to cooperate with the line of matrices and-a metalpot having a mouth-piece, to cooperate with the mold, the mold wheel andmetal pot being pivotally mounted on a substantially. common axisarranged transverse to the length of the line of matrices.

18. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith means for holding a line of matrices in casting position, and amold to cooperate therewith, of a metal pothaving a mouth-piece tocooperate with the mold, the metal pot being movably mounted whereby itmay adjust itself to the mold, and means including a member connected tothe metalpot on an axis transverseto the length of the mold, for forcingthe mouth-piece of the metal pot against the mold.

14. In a typographical machine of the class described, the combinationwith a mold of a metal pot having a mouth-piece to cooperate with themold, the metal pot being movably mounted whereby itmay adjust itselfangularly with respect to the length of the mold, and means including amember pivotally acting on the metal pot at a point intermediate thelength of the mouth-piece for forcing the mouth-piece against the mold.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

SAMUEL E. SPERRY.

